Pixar's Luca will debut exclusively on Disney+, skipping a theatrical release. The animation studio's only 2021 release, Luca (2021) movie Leaked features the voices of Jacob Tremblay (Room), Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam!), Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids), and comedian Jim Gaffigan. Set in a seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the film will follow its titular character and his best friend, Alberto, as they try to keep one massive secret: they are both sea monsters that come from an underwater world.
Luca is one of the few films that has, so far, stuck by its release date amidst a slew of delays that show an industry in turmoil. In 2020, Pixar saw two films hit Disney+ because of the pandemic. Onward hit theaters March 6 before Disney decided to put it on the streamer soon after as theaters around the world began closing their doors. Soul, Pixar's other 2020 release, cancelled its theatrical debut altogether, releasing exclusively on Disney+ Pixar's Luca at no extra charge.
The animated film starring Jacob Tremblay will premiere on June 18, 2021 at no additional cost to subscribers or More Information Movies
Pixar’s “Luca” will skip theaters and debut as an exclusive on Disney+, Disney announced Tuesday along with a slew of other date changes and adjustments to the studio’s theatrical release plans. Like “Soul” before it, “Luca” will be available at no additional charge to Disney+ subscribers on June 18, the same day it was originally meant to hit theaters. In international markets where Disney+ is not yet available, the film will be released theatrically, with premiere dates to be announced. The release plans for Pixar’s latest are in contrast to the other moves Disney made today for “Black Widow” and “Cruella,” both of which will debut in theaters and on Disney+ on the same day, but as premium video on demand titles through Disney+’s Premier Access.
Disney's decisions to release Pixar's latest original films straight to Disney+ with no additional charge has left an impact on the employees.
Pixar employees are feeling demoralized after their most recent two releases, Soul and Luca, have been sent straight to Disney+. Pixar Animation is one of the pillars of the Walt Disney Corporation, and in 2006 was one of the first major purchases Bob Iger made as CEO of the company at $7.4 billion, which was more than what the company would pay for Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm. The studio's releases were so prestigious that Toy Story 2, originally planned as a direct-to-video movie was upgraded to a theatrical release when the screening impressed the studio executives.
Pixar's Onward was released on March 6, 2020, a week before theaters shut-down due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Disney then decided to release the film on Disney+ a month later and tried to hold off on Soul, delaying its release twice. It then finally decided to release the film on the streaming service on Christmas Day. Soul has so far gone on to be an awards season powerhouse, having won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film and being nominated for Best Animated Picture at the Academy Awards. Luca was slated for theatrical release on June 18, 2021, but as the date grew closer and the conditions of theaters and audiences' desire to return was more up in the air, Disney shifted its schedule and Luca would become a Disney+ exclusive.
Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film “Luca” is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface
